Tanchangya community participates in ghilaikhela on Vishu festival, what is this game

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Tanchangya community’s New Year and New Year celebrations are called Vishu. In this festival, Tripura youths and children indulge in ghilaikhela. Infused with the traditions of the Tanchangya community, this game is considered one of the ways to strengthen social bonds.

The Chakma love story Radhaman-Dhanpudi (Dhunpuri in Tanchangya) describes this ghilaikhela. The victorious prince Radhaman and his lover Dhanpudi passed the test of immortal love by playing ghilaikhela. Radhaman’s ‘Ghilai’ missed the target and pierced Dhanpudi’s body. The pain of piercing the body could not hurt the bond of love. On the contrary, the emotional bond between the two has become stronger due to this injury.

Ghilaikhela is also associated with the tradition of the Chakmas with the Tanchangya community. However, the game has now largely disappeared from Chakma society. This game survives in the festivals of the Tanchangya community. On the first day of the Vishu festival i.e. Phul Vishu, Ghilaikhela takes place throughout the night. Let all the participants enjoy the test of love like the legendary Radhaman-Dhanpudi. Every year Ghilai Khela is organized with Mahadhumdham on Vishu festival. This game is organized in Rowangchari upazila today Monday.

Ghilakhela is played with the seeds of a wild vine. The wild name of that vine is ‘Gila’, which is known as ‘Ghilai’ to the hill people. Ratikant Tanchangya, the founder of Rangamati Shilpakala Academy, mentions in his book ‘Tanchangya Jati’, ‘Tanchangya and Chakma have become popular traditional games in society since ancient times due to the influence of Radhaman-Dhanpudi’s ghilaikhela.’

Ghilaikhela has strengthened social relations in a once disconnected society, as well as provided entertainment in rural townships. Although it is now a festival game, in those days the game was a means of daily entertainment for children, teenagers and young people. For this, Ghilai Khela is considered as a game of love bond.

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Chotan Kanti Tanchangya is the convener of the Ghilakhela tournament sub-committee at the Vishu Mela organized by Bangladesh Tanchangya Welfare Organization (Bataks) in Bandarban. He told Prothom Alo, ‘Gilalta’s ripe fruit seeds are called “Ghilai” by Tanchangya and Chakmara. The game is called “Ghilaikhela” as it is played with. During the festival, ghilaikhela is played non-stop throughout the night. Everyone who participates in this competitive sport has to show great patience and endurance. There the bond of love for each other becomes stronger.

Chhotan Kanti Tanchangya said, ‘Players play several types of ghilaikhela. Mokkhela, Quichuk game, Gamait game, Bangkhela, Paiche game; There are several other such games. Each game is played in two teams of 3 to 11 players. This game is played in different categories only for girls, only for men or men and women together. He said, “A group of people keep getting ghilai on the field, they aim at the ghilai of the opposing team and throw them ghilai.” A stage of the game is over if all the tricks of the opposing team are destroyed. Thus, in each game, the other team wins by defeating the opposing team in five to 13 goal-directed steps. Each of the players has to show discipline, mutual love and tolerance to win each step.

This year, Ghilai Khela has been organized at Rowanchari Upazila Sadar on the initiative of Tanchangya Welfare Organization. 47 teams of men and women from different areas of Bandarban and Rangamati have participated in it, according to the concerned persons of the organization. Ghilikhela was inaugurated yesterday evening by Member of Parliament of Bandarban Sachingpr Jerry.